Following HumAngle reports on the frustration of farmers over attacks by herdsmen, the Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday called for immediate action on the conflict.
Residents in Ikoyi-Ile, Orire Local Government Area of the state said that they might resort to self-help if the Oyo State government failed to protect them from suspected herdsmen’s attacks.
The assembly at its plenary decried incessant attacks on farmers in Oriire Local Government Area in Ogbomoso axis of the state by suspected Fulani cattle herders.
It also ordered thorough investigation into the recent incidents in the area which led to the death of farmers and destruction of farmlands.
This was part of the resolutions of the house after deliberating on a motion on a matter of urgent public importance on the need to protect lives and property of farmers in Oriire Local Government Area from incessant herders’ attacks.
The motion was jointly sponsored by Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South) and Jacob Bamigboye (Oriire).
The assembly urged the state government to put urgent measures in place for the effective take-off of the Amotekun Corps, a state policing outfit, as well as the implementation of Open Rearing and Grazing Regulations Law, 2019.
It also appealed to the Commissioner of Police in the state to mandate his personnel to handle cases between farmers and herders with fairness and equity to ensure justice.
Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly while reading the resolutions, directed the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources to liaise with the Executive arm of Government on modalities for the implementation of the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulations Law,2019.
Ogundoyin also tasked the House Committee on Security and Strategy to update the legislature on the status of the Amotekun Corps.
Ogundoyin earlier listed the cutting off of a farmer’s hand at Boluwaduro last year, an attack on a farmer at Alaropo in July, 2020, raping of a farmer’s daughter and destruction of farmlands by suspected Fulani herders as some of the recorded cases.
He said that the incessant attacks had impoverished the farmers.
In his contribution, Bamigboye decried the way Fulani herders were using their animals to graze on farmlands.
He said that villages such as Tewure, Araromi, Igbo Eleru, Animashaun, Onikoko, Budo-Afa, Kango, Oko-Oba had tales of woes of attacks by Fulani herders.
Other lawmakers, including.Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North), Asimiyu Alarape ( Minority Leader), Adeola Bamidele and Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa) blamed the rising farmer/herders clashes across the state on the activities of Fulani cattle rearers.
They urged security agents to rise up to the challenge of containing the violence and prosecuting those culpable to forestall total breakdown of law and order.
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